TROUTDALE, Ore. -- Effective immediately, all Eagle Creek Fire evacuation orders in Multnomah County have been lifted, the sheriff's office announced Monday afternoon.

Access to the Dodson, Warrendale, Bridal Veil, and Latourell is limited to residents only, due to road closures on both the Historic Columbia Highway and eastbound Interstate 84. Residents are asked to report to the Troutdale Police Community Center for instructions and permits to access closed roadways.

"A combination of successful firefighting efforts and recent rains has allowed fire crews to continue making progress on the fire lines along the west side of the Eagle Creek Fire," said Lt. Chad Gaidos.

Evacuation notices in the Hood River Valley have also been lifted. Level 1 notices remain in place for the Cascade Locks area, as well as Wyeth and Viento, due to the flash flood advisory.

The Breitenbush Hot Springs and Breitenbush Summer Homes will remain at a level 3 (Go!) evacuation level because of the risk of thunder and lightning.

The rain may be helping crews fighting the wildfire, but the recent rain could also present new challenges, including an increased chance of landslides.

The latest KGW forecast says Portland and the Columbia Gorge could receive between 1 and 2 inches of rain accumulation by the middle of this week.

A spokesman with the U.S. Geological Survey said the burn areas are highly susceptible to landslides. "It doesn't mean it's going to happen but the likelihood does increase," he said.

Firefighters focused over the weekend on preparing for the rain, fortifying fire lines, removing unneeded equipment and building water bars to reduce erosion along the fire lines.

Nearby residents also said they were glad to see the rain move in. “The rain is taking the smoke out. So that’s cool," said neighbor Leon Alec. "That feels way better because you can breathe.”

Photos: Ash falling in Portland metro area

Photo: Stephen Bremmy

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Photo: Stephen Bremmy

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Westbound Interstate 84 reopened Saturday morning after it was temporarily closed for about five hours between Troutdale and Hood River for tree removal. Westbound lanes initially reopened Thursday after being closed since Sept. 4.

Eastbound lanes remain closed and Oregon Department of Transportation officials offered no timetable for when those lanes may reopen.

The Historic Columbia River Highway is also still closed and has no schedule to reopen. ODOT said rocks and trees are still falling onto the highway and it is not safe for travel.

On the Washington side of the gorge, trucks over 10,000 pounds are prohibited from driving between Washougal and Dallesport on State Route 14 due to the fire. The ban on large trucks will remain in place until I-84 is open.

The Archer Mountain Fire, which started in Washington when the Eagle Creek Fire jumped the Columbia River, is 100 percent contained, fire officials said.

There were no changes to evacuation orders on Saturday. The most recent evacuation notices in Multnomah County came on Friday when all Level 3 evacuation orders were downgraded to Level 2. Some areas of Hood River remain under Level 3 evacuations that were put into place Thursday after fire activity increased on the east end Wednesday night.

The fire has reached the outer boundary of the Bull Run Watershed, but has not approached any infrastructure or the drinking water reservoirs, according to the Portland Water Bureau. Water from Bull Run serves more than 950,000 people in the Portland metro area. The water bureau is prepared to switch to its secondary water supply if needed.

Evacuation Orders

Level 3 evacuations have forced hundreds of people from their homes since the fire started.

Multnomah County downgraded all Level 3 evacuations to Level 2 on Friday, meaning residents who had been evacuated can return to their homes but they should be ready to leave again on a moment's notice.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office asked residents who had been evacuated to visit the Corbett Community Church for re-entry instructions. Household pets are welcome back, the sheriff's office said, but livestock should not return quite yet.

Some areas in Hood River County remain under Level 3 evacuation orders.

Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese said some evacuees had expressed concerns about looting in their homes. Reese said there was a large police presence at all hours in areas under Level 3 evacuation orders. Anyone who sees any looting should call police.

The historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, built in 1925, was threatened by the fire, but structural firefighters worked to keep the fire away from it. Several structural engines and an aerial ladders truck worked with water tenders to keep the lodge wetted down.

"The fire crews, they're unbelievable," said Cascade Locks Mayor Tom Cramblett. "They're tough, they're into it. They're going to do all they can to not lose one house. One house to them is a total loss."

Last week, Lt. Damon Simmons, a spokesman with the State Fire Marshal's Office also said he has driven through the gorge, and though he said it is still a dangerous drive at this time, the forest remains intact.

"The gorge still looks like the gorge," he said. "It's not a wasteland."

Suspect identified

Oregon State Police said the person suspected of starting the Eagle Creek Fire is a 15-year-old Vancouver boy. They said they believe the teen and others were using fireworks near the Eagle Creek Trail.

No arrests have been made. OSP is asking for more tips from witnesses who may have seen the boys that day.

One witness, Kevin Marnell, told KGW he heard a firework go off when he was hiking the trail Saturday. He also sent a video to KGW of officers speaking with a group of teenagers on Saturday night near the trailhead.

Many of the hikers had gone up the Eagle Creek Trail on Sept. 2 to swim at the popular waterfalls and pools when the fire broke out below them at around 4:30 p.m.

The hikers found themselves trapped between the new Eagle Creek Fire and the older Indian Creek Fire, which had been burning to the south since July 4. Firefighters have not been able to work on the fire directly due to steep, unsafe conditions.

The only way to get the hikers out was through a longer, more difficult 14-mile route. With daylight fading on Saturday night, officials told them spend the night near Tunnel Falls. Mountain Wave Search & Rescue dropped supplies to the hikers.